Minnow bucket



Dec 1, l931- J. w. BoLTE 1,834,329

MINNOW BUCKET mea Nov. 1o, 195o IN VEN TOR.

fo/m IK curf ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 1, 1931 JOHN W. BoLtrn, oF INDIANAPOLIS, INTJTANAy MIN'NOW BUCKET ApplicationV led November 10, 1930.- Serial No.I 494,561.y n i This invention relates to a minnow bucket forV the use of fishermen in transporting and preserving live minnows for bait.

In order to preserve live minnows for any L appreciable length of time, it is necessary that they be constantly supplied with fresh water. Heretofore, this has been accomplished in two ways. ,The first is by the use of a minnow bucket having a solid bottom l0 and sides and a perforated top which may be sunk in a stream while the owner is fishing. This is the so-called single bucket type and is convenient for transporting minnows since the sides are not perforated, but is inconvenient to use since it must be sunk in the stream instead of floating within easy reach. 'The second type is vknown as the double bucket type and consists of an outer bucket having a solid bottom and side Walls 0 and an inner bucket having perforated side walls and carrying a float which supports the bucket on the surface of the water. In carrying the double bucket type, the inner bucket is placed within the outer bucket and. the outer bucket is filled with water. While the owner is fishing, the inner bucket only is lowered into the water and is kept afloat by the said float. p The circulation is through theperforations in the side walls. The inner bucket alone can not be conveniently carsides in the provision of an unperforated side wall together with a perforated top member extending above the side walls and a float adapted to maintain the bucketat the proper level to permit water to enter the perforations in thetop member.

Another feature of thev'invention residesin `the provision of a bucket iniwhich' the air chamber serving as the oat is so placedv aszto serve as insulation against .heat caused by` the direct rays of the sun wh'enthebucket is carried or allowed to stand out of the water. The water in the bucket, therefore, remains at a much cooler temperature than in other types of buckets and thus prolongs the life of the minnows carried therein. This `feature is applicable to the perforated side wall Ytype of minnow bucket before mentioned, as well as to the-perforatedtop type of lbucket herein specifically described. Y i Other ob '-ects and features andthe full nature of the invention willbe understood from the vaccompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

:Figure 1 is a perspectiveV view andFigure .2 is a central sectional viewoflthe preferred form ofthe invention. Figure 3 is acentral sectional view of the upper part lof an alterna- Vtive form of the invention. A

The bucket as illustrated herein is provided with a solid bottom .10 and u-nperforated side wal-ls 11. In the preferredxform a top` mem'- ber 12 is fastened tothe side walls 11 ata point a short distancebelow'v the upper edge of said side walls.V rThe top'I member 12 is preferably of the frusto conical .form shown in the drawings and extends above the upper edge of the side walls as shown; Perforations 13 are provided inthe walls of the top member. A cover 14 is fastened by means of a hinge 15 and a latch 16 to the top member. The said cover is provided with an air space 17 which serves as .a float to maintain the bucket at the proper elevation in the water to permit water to pass over the edge of the side walls 11 and into and out of the perforations 13. The bucket is furnishedy with the usual bail 18.

In the alternative form shown in Figure 3 the top member 112 is fastened to the side walls 111 by means of a hinge 115 and a latch 116. The said top member` is formed with perforations 113 and has an air space 117 serving as a float.

It is evident that either form of the invention may be conveniently carried without the use of an outer bucket since the side walls are unperforated below their point of contact with the top member. Suiiicient water may carried therein for a large supply of minnows without danger of the water spilling out on the carriers trouser legs or skirt. At the same time, the bucket may befloated within easy reach of the fisherman While a substantial circulation of vfresh water is maintained therethrough. The provision of the portion of the side walls above the intersection thereof with the top member also aids 1n the preven# tion of spilling of water.

It is also evident that the iioat, when located i' in the cover, serves as heat insulation against the direct rays of the sun.

Minor variationsin the shape and form of the parts may be made without departing from the broader features of the invention as defined by the following claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. A minnow bucket including a solid bottom, side walls7 a perforated top member fastened to said side walls, and a cover hinged to said top member, said cover including an air chamber serving as a float.

2. A minnow bucket including a solid bottom, side walls, a perforated top member eX- tending above its line of Contact with said side walls, said side walls being unperforated below said line of Contact, and a cover hinged to said top member, said cover including an air chamber serving as a float.

3. A minnow bucket including a solid bottom, side walls, a perforated top member eX- tending above its line of Contact with said side walls, said side walls also extending above said line of Contactand being unperforated below said line, and a fioat so placed as to maintain the bucket in a floating position at the proper elevation to permit water to pass over the upwardly-extending portion of said side walls and to enter at least a portion of said perforations.

In witness whereof I have hereunto affixed `my signature.

JOHN W. BOLTE. 

